Classic rock radio is, by its own design, a very stagnant radio format. While a lot of excellent songs are played, there's never going to be new "classic rock" band to come along and shake things up. What these radio stations could do, though, is dig a little deeper and give some of these artists a spin.
1. Big Star
The ultimate "incredible band that nobody knew about," Big Star developed an enormous fan base among alternative rock crowds (R.E.M. were big fans) but for some reason, never broke through on mainstream radio. Its sound is definitely melodic and rockin' enough to be a huge hit if given the chance. Plus, their song "In The Street" (as performed by Cheap Trick) was already used as the theme song to That 70's Show, and that worked out pretty well.
2. Television
A few of the original CBGB bands, such as the Ramones, Blondie, and even super-weirdos Talking Heads are given significant airtime on classic rock stations, but Television, the scene's ultimate guitar band, is never heard. Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd's exquisitely interlocking guitars could easily be played alongside a Thin Lizzy track.
3. The Buzzcocks
The Clash are pretty much the only British punks who get played on air, and while I can understand passing on the Sex Pistols (way too abrasive), the Buzzcocks wrote some of the catchiest songs of the late '70s. I'm pretty sure DJs just don't want to say the name "Buzzcocks" over the air, in case the FCC is listening.
4. The Creation
The first time I saw Rushmore and heard "Making Time," I assumed it was some obscure song from The Who that I'd never heard before. That assumption alone makes this band worthy enough to get some airtime.
5. The Replacements
Of all the bands from the 80s American underground, the Replacements were easily the most accessible, alongside R.E.M. Superficially, their songs sounds like huge '80s rock classics, only much more emotionally nuanced. If they played "Left of the Dial" right after "Working for the Weekend," I don't think anyone would be too startled by it.
6. Roxy Music
Here's my suggestion to a classic rock DJ for a short playlist: "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie, "Life During Wartime" by Talking Heads, "Tom Sawyer" by Rush, and "Virginia Plain" by Roxy Music. These are all weird, great songs by weird, great artists, and while three of them are already played on the radio, one of them isn't, and I'm not sure why.
7. Early Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd's music from the '70s is spun more than most other artists, but those aren't the only songs the band wrote. Their earliest psychedelic singles with acid-fried genius Syd Barrett would fit perfectly right in between "Strawberry Fields Forever" and "Paint It, Black".
8. Smashing Pumpkins
Unlike their early '90s contemporaries, Smashing Pumpkins weren't very concerned with punk when it came to their music or ideals. They were unapologetic rock stars, and their songs came down as hard as Black Sabbath with riffs that sounded like Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Maybe Billy Corgan's voice is a bit too much, but Neil Young and Geddy Lee seem to get a lot of requests.
